Motor-vehicle



0. E. HUNT. MOTOR VEHICLE. A-PPLlCATiON FILED 0Ec.30. 1915. 1,848,997, Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

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O. E. HUNT. MOTOR VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED 050.30. I915.

Patepted Aug. 10,1920;

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MOTOR VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED DEC.30, I9I5.

Patented Aug. 10, 192% 4 SHEUS SHEE14.

r i' lllilill rarest GEMQEZE E. HUET, 016 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNQR CUB'LPMIY, 0F EETRQIT, MICHIGAN,

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llIQTDR-VEHICLE.

incense.

'Specifieation of Letters Patent.

latented r ting 1 3,

Application filed December 30, 1315. Serial No. 68,394.-

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, ORMUND E. HUNT, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Detroit, Wayne county, State of Michigen, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Motor-Vehicles, of which th following is a specification.

This invention relates to motor vehicles and particularly to the steering mechanism and the controlof the motor.

. ()ne of the objects of the invention is to so mount the steering mechanism proper upon the frame of the vehicle that it may be readily ad usted to various angles.

13- Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and efilcient control mechanism for the motor throttle, in connection with the steering mechanism of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a steering shaft with an inclosing' casing and a stationary tube within the steering shaft for supporting and housing the motor 'control devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and eiiicient worm and nut steering mechanism with a suitable casing therefor.

' Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the forward part of a motor vehicle embodying this intention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the steering column and adjacent parts to the vehicle. together with the connections for controlling the motor throttle;

. Fig 5 is a front elevation of a steering mechanism arranged for clearness in vertical position instead of diagonally;

Fig. 4- is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the steering mechanism shown in l 3; i

Fig. 5 is a transverse section substantially on the line 5-5 of Figs;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sec 'lional view of the upper portion of the steering column;

Fig' 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6, of the lower part of the steering column, and

8 is a transverse section substantially on the line 88 of l G.

Referring to the drawings, 1Qv TQPZOSBXKS by loosening the nuts securing the bolt the forward part of the. motor vehicle frame upon which is mounted a motor 11, a radiator 12, a dash board 13, and a floor board 14;- The frame is supported through springs 15 upon an axle-16, having steermgv spindles 17 upon which the wheels 18 are rotatabiy mounted. Arms 19 on each of the steering spindles 17 are connected by a cross link20, and there is another arm 21 on one of the steering spindles by which both of the spindles are steered through the means of a link 22 of the usual form. This link 22 extends rearwardly substantially parallel with the frame 10 and is adapted to '-be operated by. an arm 23 of steering mechanism 24. T his steering mechnism is in the form of a casing or housmg 25 which is pivotally mounted upon the frame 10 as by bolt or trunnion 26. The

"arm 23 is rigidly keyed to a rock snaiit I the bolt 26, and inFig. 8 there is a flanged ioss 30 which may be arranged between the casing 25 and the side of the frame id to act as a spacer or positioning member.

in Fig. "1 it will be seen that the casing 25 extends diagonally upwardly and rear wardly in the form of a tube 31 through a bracket 32 which may be securer. to the dash l3 and floor board 14. As shown in full lines in said Fig. 1 the steering column 15 positioned for a certain typ oi whereas in dotted lines the steering column is set lower for a vehicle in which the seats are lower or farther to the rear. It will be understood that this adjustment is made 255. As-thc steering column lowered the rock shaft' 27 will, of course, move about the axis of the bolt 26, the opening through the frame 10 being in the form ot a shit 33 as shown in dotted lines in said Fig. 1.

By thus arranging the axis o1 the rock shaft 27 eccentric to or rearwardly of the axis of the'bolt 26, when the adjustment of the steering columnis' made as above referred to, the rock shaft=27 merely mores downwardly somewhat, carrying with it of course the arm 23, and the'an'gle of said arm is altered only slightly Thus the relposition of the arm to the axle Vehicle,-

16 and its spindles substantially main trained during this adjustment.

Upon reference pz-irticularly to Figs. 3, t

and 5: the casing seen to be formed in two parts. detachably secured together as by the bolts 3 L The tubular part 3i of the casing has a flange brazed or otherwise secured to its lower end and this flange is bolted to the lower palt of the casing as by bolts 36. Upon the upper end of the tubular part 3]. of the casing is secured a collar Mounted within and extending longitudinally of the entire casing is a tubular steering shaft 38. The extreme lower end 39 of this shaft 38 has a bearing in the lower part of the casing 25, and the-upper end of the shaft has a bearing in the collar 3? at the upoer end of the tubular part of the r This latter bearing is through b to the upper end of the shaft 38 and which is mounted directly in a bushing 41. Secured to the flange piece 40 as by bolts 42 is the steering wheel 43 of the steering mechanism.

Intermediate the end of the shaft 38 there is a lar e thrust bearing 4a in the casing 25 for tile purpos or" taking all end thrust of the shaft v .Between the thrust bearing a4 and the lower end 39' of the shaft 38, the latter is fonned with a worm 45 upon which is a dles 1? through nut 46 guided directly in the casing 20 as the lug 4-7 and guideway 48.

In esch side of the nut 46 is mounted a trunnion piece i9 having a transverse groove or slot 50. Arms 51 which are shown as formed integral with the rock shaft 27 extend into and operate in these slots 50 as the nut 46 is moved longitudinally of the shaft 38 by the rotation of the I latter. Thus through the arms 51 the shaft. 27 is rocked upon its axis carrying with it the arm 23 which thereby moves the spinthe link22 above referred to.

Referring particularly to Fig. 6, it"is seen that the flange piece 40 is keyed to theshaft 88 by a key 52 and is retained thereon by a member 53 threaded into the end of said shaft. It will. be noticed also that the head of the member overlaps the upper end of the member 40 and forms a second securing means for retaining the steering wheel 43 on the flange member 40.

For the purpose of housing and supporting the motor control devices within the steering shaft 38, a tube 54 extends entirely through said shaft 38 mm is connected to the lower part of the casing 25 through a flange piece 55 to which it is brazed. The

flange piwe is removably secured as by bolts 55. The upper end of the tube 54;- .has a bearing in'the threaded member 53 so hat the latter may turn on it with the d piece 40 which is keyed of which has a bearing pivoted at 84,

Lessee? shaft 38, and a bracket 56 is'detacbably secured to the extreme'u'pper end of the tube 54 immediately above said threaded piece 53. The securing means is in the form of a clanig'iing bol-t57, the bracket being a split sleeve where it surrounds the tube 54. Oil may be supplied to the bearing between the tube-54 and the member as through the oiler 58 and the channel 59. An arm 60 extends radially from the bracket 56 and supports a segment 61 for a purpose hereinafter described.

As shown in Fig. 7 it will be seen that the extreme lower end of the tube 54 where it is brazed into the flange iece is slightly contraced and thereby ib'rms a bearing for the lower part of a hollow rod or tube 62 which may be termed a control rod or tube. Said tube 62 extends slightly below the end of the tube 54 and is itself slightly contracted at that point and surrounded by and keyed to a segment or gearv 63. Concentrically arranged within the control tube 62 is a second control tube 64, the lower part i in the contracted part of the control tube 62. Said control tube 64 also has a segment or gear 65 keyed or otherwisesecured to it.

Between the upper end of: the tube 54 and the control tube (52 is a bushing 66, and be- '95 tween the upp r end of the control tube 62 and the" control tube 64. is a bushing 67. Thus it will be seen that the various tubes are in contact with each other only at the upper and lower ends whereby there is little likelihood oi The tubes sticking 0r rattling.

l'pon the extreme upperend of the control tube (-2 is secured a boss 68, and upon the xtrcme upper end of the control tube 6t is a similar boss 39. These bosses are provided with radial arms 70 and 71 which have operating handles 72 and spring ringers 73 adapted to cooperate with the segment 6]. above rcl'crrcdto, to lock the arms in any desired position.

' Mounted upon the boss 69 of the control tube 64 is a switch 74 of any suitable form, adapted to connect as desired the two wires '75 which extend dmvnwardly through the inner control tube (34. It will be understood that this control tube 64 is entirely open at its lower end and the Wires 75 project thcrethrough and may be connected with any suitable electrical device such as a horn.

lpon reference particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 7, it will be seen that the segments 63 sud 65 mesh respectively with segments 76 and 77 connected respectively to arms '78 and 79 which are adapted to operate the motor throttle and ignition mechanism. In Fig. 2 the arm 78 is shown as connected to the rod 80 which has a lost'motion or pin and slot connection 81 with an arm 82 of'a lever 83 As shown the lever 83 is plvotally supported upon a lug 85 on the E sence? dash board 13 adjacent the steering column. in arm 85 of the lever 83 is connected through a link 87 and arm 88 with the motor throttle 89; The lever 83 has a third arm 90 which is connected by a link 91 with opedel iever 92 for operating it. The lever 92 isshoivn as pivot-ally supported at 93 upon. the floor heard 14, and e retracting spring 94 is adapt-ed to maintain the various connections including the throttle valve 89, in normal pOSliJlOD.

it will he seen that the valve 89 may he opened by the pedal lever 92 against the action of the spring 94:, regardless of the po sition'o'f the rod 80, since the pin and slot connection 81 permits the arm 82- to operate without moving said rod 80. However, upon pressure being removed from the pedal lever 9:3 the spring-9-l retracts the connections to the position determined by tie rod 80. The position oi the rod 80 is in turn ('lGtQLD'lll'lGd by the arm 70 at the top of the steering column.

A specific embodiment of the invention has been described in detail and will be specifically claimed, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of the construction shown, as it will he apparent that changes may be made Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what i claim and desire to secure by Lettors Potent is:

1i e steering mechanism for motor vehicles. in combination. a stationary support ing casing having an upwardly extending; tuhule'r part a tubular steering; shaft having hearings in the upper and lower parts oi :uid mixing, ii tuhe connected to the cas ng it i lower end beyond the end oi said shaft, l steering Wheel keyed to the upper end oi said shaft. a threaded member adopted to hold said wheel in place and forming a hear I et its lower end beyond the end of said shaft, a steering Wheel. keyed to the upper end of said shalt, a threaded member adapted to hold szud wheel. in place and forming at hearing betweenthe upper end of said shaft and said tube, a bracket mounted on said tube immediately above said member, motor cont-r01 devices unted in said tube, and arms cooperating Willi said bracket and connected to ope ate said devices.

3. In a. steering: mechanism for motor ve hiclesin combination, a stationary supporting casing having an upwardly extending tubular part. :1. tubular steering shaft mounted to turn in upper and lower hearings in said casing, flanged men her connected to the upper end of said shaft, a steering Wheel keyed to said flanged member, u'benrinp member secured to said shaft and having means for retaining said steering wheel on said hinged member and a tube extending tliri'iugh said bearing member and shaft and adapted to house the-motor control mechanism.

In testimony whereof I eiii'x my signature.

Gill iOl ll) E. HUNT. 

